The study found that overall stroke risk increased 21% among patients who were taking a PPI. While at the lowest doses, the authors found either no or minimal increased risk of stroke, at the highest doses, they found that stroke risk increased 33% for Prilosec and Prevacid patients, 50% for Nexium patients and 79% for Protonix patients.

“Considering the wide use of proton pump inhibitors worldwide, our study further questions the cardiovascular safety of these drugs and further studies are warranted,” the study’s authors concluded.

In a related study, the authors likewise found that PPIs carry a significant risk of other adverse effects, being specifically linked to an increased risk of bacterial infection. Other complications include an increased risk of kidney failure.